[Steve Roberts]

(Sean on)
Yesh, of carshe, dear boy.
(Sean off)

Just drag the tab for the subcomp’s comp window away from the comp window group until it sort of “pops”. Then make sure that “synchronise time of all related items” is selected in the prefs.

Beware, though … having that selected can slow down big projects.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

Sometimes modes don’t respond to 128/128/128 gray. Try red as a test.

Are you sure you’re changing the mode of the top layer? Is there a layer that it can affect beneath it? Are you changing Mask modes instead?

With a layer selected and the modes panel visible in the timeline, you can cycle through its modes by hitting the + or – keys above the main keyboard. Don’t forget to hold down shift. 🙂

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

(This also applies to widescreen, but with different numbers.)

Computer monitors display square pixels.
TV monitors display rectangular pixels.

As a result:
1) We know a standard computer monitor has a 4:3 aspect ratio. Its resolutions fit that ratio: 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768 and so on. This is because the pixels are square.
2) A standard TV also has a 4:3 aspect ratio, but the digital standard calls for non-square pixels. 720×480 or 720×486 fill a 4:3 screen, but those numbers are not 4:3.
3) 720×540, 640×480 and 648×486 are all 4:3. When creating graphics in computer graphics apps that are not compliant with non-square pixels, you should create TV images using one of those frame sizes. Older versions of Photoshop are like that.
4. On a square-pixel computer monitor (all of them) the 720×480/486 images will look too wide. Make drawings on graph paper to check. However, those images will look fine on TV.
5) Some video editing apps (maybe all) squeeze the image so it looks normal on the computer and the TV. AE has recently added this capability: pixel aspect ratio correction. If you use it, switch it off before rendering.

If you want to know more, search the COW for Rick Gerard’s Dr. Strangepixel article.

Hope that helps,
Steve

[Steve Roberts]

You know, since Expressions were added, I haven’t used the Wiggler once. I use the Wiggle expression instead. It doesn’t lock you into keyframes, and is quite variable.

The Wiggle expression is under the expression drop-down menu, under “property”. For almost all applications, I’ve found that you just need a value for amplitude and one for frequency. Delete the other parameters.

For more information, look for “expressing your wiggle” at the Adobe Studio.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

You know, since Expressions were added, I haven’t used the Wiggler once. I use the Wiggle expression instead. It doesn’t lock you into keyframes, and is quite variable.

The Wiggle expression is under the expression drop-down menu, under “property”. For almost all applications, I’ve found that you just need a value for amplitude and one for frequency. Delete the other parameters.

For more information, look for “expressing your wiggle” at the Adobe Studio.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

You can use the “create proxy” command to make a smaller copy of large footage. It gets scaled up so it’s the proper size, but it looks low-res. When it’s time to render, you can choose to render with no proxies.

A placeholder is the thing that looks like SMPTE bars, inserted by AE when a piece of footage is missing. You can insert one if you like, but I find them annoying. Proxies are better.

It’s all in the help.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

Set up the amplitude (amp) as a variable, and link it to an animated “expression controls” slider effect in the same layer.

Apply the expression controls effect, using a slider. Make it visible in the timeline. Apply the wiggle expression with a value for freq, but leave amp as is, and write amp= ; in a line above the expression. With the cursor in the space after the = , pickwhip to the slider.

Now the amp value is determined by the slider value. Animate the slider value, and the amplitude of the wiggle will follow.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

Set up the amplitude (amp) as a variable, and link it to an animated “expression controls” slider effect in the same layer.

Apply the expression controls effect, using a slider. Make it visible in the timeline. Apply the wiggle expression with a value for freq, but leave amp as is, and write amp= ; in a line above the expression. With the cursor in the space after the = , pickwhip to the slider.

Now the amp value is determined by the slider value. Animate the slider value, and the amplitude of the wiggle will follow.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

Odd that he wants no vectors.

I’d render as a JPEG sequence using the render queue, then let the flash guy import that sequence.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

https://www.justincone.com/tween
… look to the list of designers on the right.

Also, https://www.stashmedia.tv/

(and search the COW archives using “inspiration” as a search term)
Steve